Republicans make history by growing Senate majority while losing House

The election results are in and Democrats gained control of the House during the midterms. It will place a check and balance on President Trump's power and could tie up his agenda for the next couple of years.
USA TODAY

WASHINGTON – Republicans held onto the Senate – and were on track to expand their narrow majority – after toppling Democratic incumbents in at least Indiana, North Dakota, and Missouri.

As the night wore on, Republicans were ahead by narrow margins in other key Senate races in Florida, Montana and Arizona.

But Democrats won a race in Nevada against the only incumbent Republican up for reelection in a state won by Hillary Clinton in 2016. The Associated Press said Sen. Dean Heller conceded to Democrat Jacky Rosen.

Although the party that controls the White House has typically lost Senate seats in midterm elections, Democrats had the disadvantage of defending most of the seats on the ballot, including 10 in states carried by President Donald Trump.

The Senate losses for Democrats came even as their party captured the House.

It was the first time since the nation started directly electing senators in 1914 that a party has won control of the House without gaining seats in the Senate. The gains are significant because a larger Republican plurality will make it easier for Trump to have cabinet and judicial nominees approved.

"Democrats threw everything they had at our Senate majority, and we held the line," said Steven Law, who oversees political groups aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, which spent more than $123 million helping GOP candidates.

While Democrats celebrated their House victory, the Senate gains were a victory for Trump, who had devoted much of his energy in the final stretch of the campaign to helping Republican Senate candidates.

Trump sounded jubilant. He tweeted a quote he attributed to Ben Stein saying “ there’s only been 5 times in the last 105 years that an incumbent President has won seats in the Senate in the off year election. Mr. Trump has magic about him. This guy has magic coming out of his ears. He is an astonishing vote getter & campaigner."

Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly, who had sold himself as an independent thinker in a state easily won by Trump, lost to GOP challenger Mike Braun.

McCaskill, a moderate, had sought to persuade voters she was “not one of those crazy Democrats,” as she sought re-election in an increasingly conservative state that Trump carried by 19 percentage points in 2016.

Heitkamp had tried to focus on local issues and her moderate record but was hurt by the nationalization of the race through the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

In Florida, Republican Gov. Rick Scott had a slim lead over Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in a race that may be headed for an automatic recount.

"We are proceeding to a recount," Nelson said Wednesday morning. His spokesman had said Tuesday night that the results were not what the campaign had worked hard for, leading some Florida papers to report that Nelson had conceded..

Scott, a two-term governor and former healthcare CEO spent more than $50 million of his own fortune to win and Trump had campaigned intensively for him.

Democrats would have needed to hold onto seats with endangered Democrats such as Nelson and also score upset wins in order to flip control of the Senate where Republicans have a 51-49 majority.

In Tennessee, Republican Marsha Blackburn captured the seat of retiring Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., in what Democrats hoped would be a pickup for their party.

The special election in Mississippi won't be decided until Nov. 27 in a runoff between Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, the Republican appointed to the seat in April, and Democrat Mike Espy. The runoff is required because none of the candidates won an outright majority Tuesday.

Donnelly, one of five Democrats who struggled to survive in states Trump easily carried, was the first incumbent of any party to fall. He lost to Braun after Trump visited Indiana three times in the final two weeks to generate support for the Republican candidate.

"What we need to take to Washington is what works in the real world," Braun told supporters at his victory rally. The businessman and former state House member had cast himself as a political outsider in the mold of Trump.

Trump had dubbed Donnelly "Sleepin' Joe."

Republican National Committee spokesman Michael Joyce bragged Tuesday that the party has a new nickname for Donnelly that "we think will really stick this time: former Senator Donnelly."

Besides Donnelly, Heitkamp and McCaskill, the other Democrats running in top Trump states were Jon Tester of Montana, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who survived his challenge.

The last time they were on the ballot, the nation wasn't as divided along partisan lines and voters were more willing to split their tickets.

"People are voting in a more parliamentary way," said Charlie Cook, head of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

The Democratic incumbents focused on nonpartisan local issues – such as helping veterans – while heavily emphasizing health care, an issue with a lot of crossover appeal, particularly for female voters. They promised to be with Trump when they agreed with him and stand up to him when they didn't.

But those red-state Democrats had the difficult task of keeping their base enthused about their re-election bids while attracting enough of the Republicans they needed to carry their states.

Trump's final campaign stops did not include Wisconsin, Pennsylvania or Michigan – states he narrowly carried but where the Democratic incumbents had easier re-election campaigns than expected.

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, called them “snap-back” states. Trump’s small 2016 margin means there are many voters "who have a party ID not aligned with the president.”

“Given the first opportunity, they reassert their old selves,” he said.

Democrats hoped to offset any losses with pickups in Tennessee and Arizona, states where the Republican incumbent chose not to seek re-election after being publicly critical of Trump.

In Nevada, Republican incumbent Heller both embraced Trump and tried to create some distance.

Heller said 80 percent of what the president’s done has been “very, very good” while the rest has been a “reality TV show.”

The Senate does not always move in the same direction as the House in an election. In 1970, for example, Republicans gave up 10 seats in the House while gaining one in the Senate.

But a party has never lost complete control of the House while increasing power in the Senate, according to Eric Ostermeier, author of the Smart Politics blog run by the University of Minnesota.

"This is unusual because the odds are so heavily stacked in favor of the party that is actually the less popular party," Sabato said. "The Democrats pretty much were behind the eight ball in the Senate from the beginning."

Supporters waves as Air Force One with President Donald Trump aboard, departs after a campaign rally at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Belgrade, Mont. Janie Osborne, AP

President Donald Trump listens as Florida Governor and Republican senate candidate Rick Scott speaks during a campaign rally at the Hertz Arena on Oct. 31, 2018 in Estero, Fla. President Trump continues traveling across America to help get the vote out for Republican candidates running for office. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Air Fore One Landed at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fla., around 6:23 p.m., Oct. 31, 2018. President Trump came to Florida for his "Make America Great Again" rally at the Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida. The rally was also to lend support to Ron DeSantis who is running for Florida's Governor. Current Governor Rick Scott was also on hand to greet Trump. Andrea Melendez, The News-Press via USA TODAY Network

President Trump speaks during a rally on Oct. 24, 2018, at Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee, Wis. The visit was part of an effort to boost the re-election of Gov. Scott Walker and state Sen. Leah Vukmir. MARK HOFFMAN, Milwaukee Journal via USA TODAY Network

U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Ohio, left, shakes hands with President Donald Trump at a rally endorsing the Republican ticket, Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, in Lebanon, Ohio. John Minchillo, AP

President Donald Trump takes questions from a gathering of reporters next to Air Force One at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018. President Trump visited the Cincinnati area for a MAGA Rally at the Warren County Fair Grounds in Lebanon, Ohio, Friday night. Sam Greene, The Enquirer - USA TODAY NETWORK

President Donald Trump greets Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during a campaign rally at the Mid-America Center on Oct. 9, 2018 in Council Bluffs. Iowa The rally is one of several Trump has scheduled recently in support of Republican candidates running in the upcoming midterm election. Scott Olson, Getty Images

President Trump makes his way to board Air Force One before departing from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Sept. 20, 2018. Trump is heading to Las Vegas for a campaign rally. MANDEL NGAN, AFP/Getty Images

A woman poses for a photograph as she waits in line to enter a campaign rally with President Donald Trump and Senate candidate Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Matt Rourke, AP

Placards line the seats inside the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., on Aug. 2, 2018. President Trump is slated to address his supporters at a rally. This marks Donald Trump's 22nd rally in Pennsylvania and is part of the lead-up to midterm elections this fall. Tracie Van Auken, EPA-EFE

David Reinert holds a large "Q" sign while waiting in line to see President Trump at his rally Aug. 2, 2018, at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes Barre, Pa. "Q" represents QAnon, a conspiracy theory group that has been seen at recent rallies. Rick Loomis, Getty Images

President Trump reacts to a jubilant crowd at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa, Fla.. on July 31, 2018. Trump continues to hold rallies around the country in support of his agenda and candidates running in the mid-term elections. Rod Millington, EPA-EFE

President Trump shakes hands with U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. and candidate for Florida governor, as he speaks during a campaign rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa, Fla., on July 31, 2018. Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images

President Trump waves to the cheering crowd as he leaves a rally at the Four Seasons Arena at Montana ExpoPark, Thursday, July 5, 2018, in Great Falls, Mont., in support of Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., and GOP Senate candidate Matt Rosendale. Carolyn Kaster, AP

President Donald Trump reacts to the cheering crowd as he leaves a rally at the Four Seasons Arena at Montana ExpoPark, Thursday, July 5, 2018, in Great Falls, Mont., in support of Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., and GOP Senate candidate Matt Rosendale. Carolyn Kaster, AP

President Donald Trump looks to GOP Senate candidate Matt Rosendale during a rally at the Four Seasons Arena at Montana ExpoPark, Thursday, July 5, 2018, in Great Falls, Mont., in support of Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., and Rosendale. Carolyn Kaster, AP

U.S. Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn speaks to the crowd as President Donald Trump looks on during his rally at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. Larry McCormack, The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK

President Trump, with Republican congressional candidate Rick Saccone, speaks to supporters at the Atlantic Aviation Hanger on March 10, 2018, in Moon Township, Pa. The president made a visit in a bid to gain support for Saccone, who is running for the 18th Congressional District in a seat vacated by Tim Murphy. Jeff Swensen, Getty Images